Tour de France

[jdbwolverines]

Originally Posted by Footbag

Plus, I thought Lance should have let Roberto Heras win that mountain stage from his last race.

I think I remember from a interview after that race that Lance tried to get Heras the win, but they just couldn't get enough separation from Beloki, who was in 2nd place in the GC. At the time Beloki was still to close to Lance in the GC standings to be dropping any time to him, even if it was just the time bonus.

Also, I used to ride a lot back in High school, but I didn't want to take my bike with me to college so I haven't ridden hardly at all since then. I'll be finished with school soon and am hoping to get back into soon.

[Footbag]

Originally Posted by jdbwolverines

I think I remember from a interview after that race that Lance tried to get Heras the win, but they just couldn't get enough separation from Beloki, who was in 2nd place in the GC. At the time Beloki was still to close to Lance in the GC standings to be dropping any time to him, even if it was just the time bonus.

That's exactly what happened, but I believe it was Johan Bruniel (sp?)who had made the call. Lance was for it, but once they realized that the two of them couldn't put enough pressure on Beloki to crack him, Heras let up.

[Don Fernando]

Bruyneel

[Footbag]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Bruyneel

Thanks my Dutch friend!

Would Dutch be the proper term? I'm always confused about that. It's not like I'm English.

[j6ppc]

Today's finish was fantastic. Cavendish seems to be incredibly fast and won his second stage of the Tour.

Columbia's train is a thing of beauty.

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by j6ppc

Today's finish was fantastic. Cavendish seems to be incredibly fast and won his second stage of the Tour.

Columbia's train is a thing of beauty.

nice to watch

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by Footbag

Thanks my Dutch friend!

Would Dutch be the proper term? I'm always confused about that. It's not like I'm English.

Dutch is the proper term

[Alpedhuez55]

Manuel Beltran kicked out for using EPO.

Beltran joins the long list of former Postal/Discovery riders who got caught doping after leaving the team. Kind of makes you wonder if they were the cleanest team in the peloton, or if they are just the one with the best masking agents.

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

Manuel Beltran kicked out for using EPO.

Beltran joins the long list of former Postal/Discovery riders who got caught doping after leaving the team. Kind of makes you wonder if they were the cleanest team in the peloton, or if they are just the one with the best masking agents.

I don't know. What I do know is that USPS/Disco Lance Armstrong et al were certainly amongst the most tested of all athletes for the better part of a decade. Nothing was ever found let alone proven (in the USPS/Discovery context).

I'm saddened by doping always. I'll agree with you though- If those guys were doping then it was either:

• Something not on the list / tested for
• Masking agents that were below the radar

I'd like to hope that 7 in a row were won cleanly though.

[Don Fernando]

I don't care if he won with or without doping, he still had to ride the tours himself. Doping is overrated, put me on the best dope there is, and I still wouldn't be able to climb the Hautacan nor the Mont Ventoux or the Alp d'Huez.

[b128thopen]

WoW...could this thing get any better? I know I know...wait for the mountains!
Team Columbia is a thing of beauty they way they ride and set the pase and then act as a team to pull it off in the end.

I have also enjoyed watching the way the announcers treat the guy busted for doping. No American sport would do this. They are just being ruthless on this guy. He deserves everything bad coming to him. They are so close to cleaning up this sport and he goes and uses drugs, almost like he was daring them to catch him. TDF starts in a few!

[Footbag]

As for Team Discovery and Doping. I personally thing its very possible they were. That said, they were never "officially" caught. You cannot take away a victory or seven because of a suspicion.

Cannot wait for the next few races.

[curtismayhem]

Man can Ricco ever kick it up the climbs

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by j6ppc

I don't know. What I do know is that USPS/Disco Lance Armstrong et al were certainly amongst the most tested of all athletes for the better part of a decade. Nothing was ever found let alone proven (in the USPS/Discovery context).

I'm saddened by doping always. I'll agree with you though- If those guys were doping then it was either:

• Something not on the list / tested for
• Masking agents that were below the radar

I'd like to hope that 7 in a row were won cleanly though.

Cyclists have been known for taking experimental drugs that there are no tests for.

Herras, Landis, Hamilton, Beltran have all now been suspended. There is strong circumstantial evidence against Lance (Ties with Dr. Ferrari and Frankie Andreu's wife's testimony) involving doping.

It is a problem in all sports. Notice how Anika and Tiger both disappeared from the golf tours before the drug testing programs started? Cycling is made to look like the worst because they are the only one that actually has a testing program with teeth.

[Footbag]

I think the disappointing thing is that for people who really look forward to the tour; it feels like the sport is being hurt. Not that it is, and not that they shouldn't be testing, but if you declare a war on doping; it raises awareness about the problem.
I think that catching the cheaters is good for the sport. But I also realize that it could turn people away who otherwise might not stick it out. While it is damaging to the fans, it is most damaging to the athletes who don't use the drugs.
Funny, I almost knew when I saw this thread that eventually we'd be talking about doping. That's kind of the point of this post.